The J.M. Smucker Company has reportedly issued a voluntary withdrawal of dozens of their dog foods after a Washington D.C. news station found an alarming amount of their products contained a drug used to euthanize animals.
WebMD reported that Smucker’s is pulling several brands of Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy canned wet dog food off the shelves amid concerns that they containing pentobarbital, a lethal barbiturate used to euthanize dogs, cats, and even horses. The company reportedly informed retailers in a memo obtained by TruthAboutPetFood.com.
(A list of the withdrawn products and their UPC codes can be viewed below.)
“This is not a threat to pet safety. Although the extremely low levels do not present a health or safety risk, their presence in our products is not acceptable to us,” the company said.
The recall comes after Washington D.C. news station WJLA found pentobarbital in multiple cans of Gravy Train dog food. For reference, Gravy Train is produced by Big Heart Pet Foods, which is owned by Smucker’s.
Collaborating with an independent lab, the news station tested 15 cans of Gravy Train pet food and found 60 percent of them contained the euthanasia drug. Though the test turned up only trace amounts, pentobarbital is banned in any concentration under federal law.
READ More: WARNING PET OWNERS: FDA investigating after euthanasia drug found in popular dog food
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, chief scientific officer for The Center for Canine Behavior Studies, suggested that the lethal drug was in the dog food due to the company using animals that were euthanized.
WJLA has asked Smucker’s why they’re withdrawing more than their Gravy Train brands but haven’t received a response.
The FDA said it’s investigating claims made by WJLA in the explosive report.
“If a pet food contains pentobarbital, the FDA will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action,” the agency said in a statement issued earlier this month.
“We plan to review the results and determine appropriate action.”
[Featured Image: Pixabay]
